Road wheel protection member

Abstract

A protection member for a vehicle road wheel includes a first planar surface and a second planar surface with a central aperture extending therethrough. The protection member further includes a plurality of unequal length pins spaced about the aperture and extending in a direction away from the second surface. The plurality of pins are configured and positioned to engage holes of said road wheel utilized for mounting the road wheel to an axle of the vehicle. The protection member further includes a plurality of spoke receiving features spaced about and extending from the second surface. The spoke receiving features have a complimentary configuration for substantially aligning with a complimentary configuration of spokes of the road wheel. When the road wheel is disposed on the second surface the plurality of pins detachably couple the protection member to the road wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A protection member for a vehicle road wheel, comprising:
 a first planar surface spaced apart from a second planar surface, and a central aperture extending therethrough; 
 a plurality of unequal length pins spaced about the aperture and extending in a direction away from the second surface, the plurality of pins configured and positioned to engage holes of said road wheel utilized for mounting the road wheel to an axle of the vehicle; and 
 a plurality of spoke receiving features spaced about and extending from the second surface, the spoke receiving features having a complimentary configuration for substantially aligning with a complimentary configuration of spokes of the road wheel, wherein when the road wheel is disposed on the second surface the plurality of pins detachably couple the protection member to the road wheel, 
 wherein each of the plurality of pins includes a retention feature positioned at a deformable portion of the pin, and an elongated slot in an end portion of the pin. 
 
     
     
       2. The protection member of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pins includes a movable retention feature. 
     
     
       3. The protection member of  claim 1 , wherein the retention feature is a protrusion. 
     
     
       4. The protection member of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of spoke receiving features includes a shaped recess area. 
     
     
       5. The protection member of  claim 1 , wherein the protection member is made of a plastic material. 
     
     
       6. The protection member of  claim 1 , wherein the central aperture includes a pair of spaced deflectable ears each having a protrusion. 
     
     
       7. The protection member of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of unequal length pins includes a first plurality of pins having a first length and a second plurality of pins having a second length. 
     
     
       8. The protection member of  claim 7 , wherein the first length is substantially longer than the second length. 
     
     
       9. The protection member of  claim 7 , wherein the first length of the first plurality of pins is for coupling the protection member to a side of the road wheel having the plurality of spokes facing outward and the second length of the second plurality of pins is for coupling the protection member to a side of a road wheel without spokes facing outward. 
     
     
       10. A protection member assembly for a vehicle road wheel for use with a winch assembly, comprising:
 a first planar surface spaced apart from a second planar surface, and a central aperture extending therethrough; 
 a plurality of pins spaced about the aperture and extending in a direction away from the second surface, the plurality of pins configured and positioned to engage holes of the road wheel utilized for mounting the road wheel to an axle of the vehicle; 
 a plurality of spoke receiving features spaced about and extending from the second surface, the spoke receiving features having a complimentary configuration for substantially receiving a complimentary configuration of spokes of the road wheel, wherein when the road wheel is disposed on the second surface the plurality of pins are configured to detachably couple the protection member to the road wheel; 
 a wheel lift member having a base and an upper portion, the base configured to be slidably received in the central aperture, the base further configured to abut against a surface of the protection member when the wheel lift member is moved in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface with the upper portion disposed above the second surface; and 
 a telescoping tube positioned along an aperture in the upper portion of the wheel lift member substantially coaxial with the central aperture, the telescoping tube configured to receive therein a cable from the winch assembly, 
 wherein the surface of the central aperture includes a pair of spaced deflectable ears each having a protrusion configured to engage the base. 
 
     
     
       11. The protection member assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the base has a rectangular configuration. 
     
     
       12. The protection member assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the wheel lift member further includes a plug positioned at the upper portion, the plug having an aperture configured for receiving the telescoping tube. 
     
     
       13. The protection member assembly of  claim 10 , wherein an end of the telescoping tube is positioned above a center of gravity of the road wheel when the road wheel is disposed on the second surface. 
     
     
       14. The protection member assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the wheel lift member is made of a material different than the first and second surfaces. 
     
     
       15. The protection member assembly of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of the base is configured to provide stiffness in one direction of the protection member and wheel lift member assembly, and a central aperture surface of the protection member is configured to provide stiffness in another direction of the protection member and wheel lift member assembly, wherein the protection member and wheel lift member assembly is configured to support and maintain the road wheel in a planar orientation relative to the ground as the wheel and protection member are moved to or from a stored position via the winch assembly. 
     
     
       16. The protection member assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the base and a surface defining the central aperture have a deflectable interference fit relationship when the base is slidably received in the central aperture. 
     
     
       17. The protection member assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the surface of the central aperture includes a protrusion configured to engage said base.